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Flashcards in Solar System Deck (20)
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1
Q

What is the imaginary line that planets spin and rotate on?

A

Axis

2
Q

What is the point in earth’s orbit around the sun where daylight is the longest or shortest?

A

Solstice

3
Q

What is the point in earth’s orbit around the sun where the amount of light and dark are equal?

A

Equinox

4
Q

Comets

A
Small
Fragile
Irregularly shaped bodies
Composed of a mixture of water ice, dust, carbon, and silicone based compounds
Coma, tail, nucleus
Halley's Comet
5
Q

Asteroids

A
Small rocky objects in the solar system
Orbit sun in asteroid belt
No atmosphere
Known as planetoids or minor planets
From tiny pebbles to 578 miles in diameter
6
Q

Meteor

A

Smallest bodies in the solar system that can be observed by the eye
“Shooting stars”
Brightest objects in the night sky
Fireball- a brilliant meteor

7
Q

How is the moon lit?

A

By sunlight bouncing off it

8
Q

What is an eclipse?

A

When one object in space casts a shadow on another

9
Q

DRAW A SOLAR ECLIPSE

A
10
Q

DRAW A LUNAR ECLIPSE

A
11
Q

LABEL THE EIGHT PHASES OF THE MOON

A
12
Q

Moon

A
Natural satellite for earth
Surface- thick, dusty, dotted with various sizes of rocks
Dotted with craters and lunar mountains
NO water
NO atmosphere
13
Q

How do tides occur?

A

Change in ocean water levels
Controlled by the pull of gravity between the earth and the moon
Force of gravity from moon pulls ocean water away from earths surface

14
Q

Which way do all planets orbit around the sun?

A

Counter clockwise

15
Q

Stars

A

Objects in space made of gases
Gases produce their own light and heat
Amount of energy produced by a star determines its color and surface temp
Nuclear fusion- occurs when hydrogen atoms combine to form helium atoms, causes light and heat energy to be given off

16
Q

Constellations

A

Astronomers recognize 88 constellations
Astronomers use constellations as a map in the sky; describing the locations of Jupiter astronomers would name the constellations where Jupiter would appear

17
Q

How do astronomers measure the distance to stars?

A

Astronomers map the stars one month, then six months later map again. An imaginary line is drawn from both points where they cross which gives the location of the star

18
Q

Why do seasons exist

A

From earths axis leaning toward or away from the sun

19
Q

What is the source of all stars energy

A

Nuclear fusion

20
Q

Why does the moon seem to appear, change shape, and disappear?

A

Because of the moons location in space